“Under  4ie  Skadow 
of  tke  Almigkt;$” 

Bj)  MRS.  EDWARD  B.  KENNEDY 


This  little  booklet  is  sent  forth 
as  an  “offering  unto  the  Lord”  and 
as  a testimony  unto  Him  to  “show 
forth  His  faithfulness.” 

Copies  may  be  secured  from 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Kennedy,  in  care  of 
The  Great  Commission  Prayer 
League,  808  North  LaSalle  Street, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 


An  Introductory  Word 

& 


By  the  Great  Commission  Prayer  League 

EVERY  PASTOR  and  Christian  worker  and 
missionary  should  be  given  the  opportunity  to 
read  this  booklet.  The  record  of  God’s  unchanging 
faithfulness  will  encourage  His  children  who  have 
been  or  are  passing  through  “deep  waters.” 

The  author,  Mrs.  Edward  B.  Kennedy,  has  long 
been  one  of  our  special  prayer  helpers.  Again 
and  again  she  and  her  husband  have  “come  to  the 
help  of  the  Lord”  by  day  and  night  praying  ex- 
ceedingly for  the  many  requests  for  prayer  that 
come  to  us  from  burdened  hearts. 

One  of  Satan’s  means  of  attack  is  through 
doubt — through  unbelief.  Oh,  that  every  one  who 
reads  this  booklet  may  be  able  to  say  with  full 
assurance  of  faith: 

“The  Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  for- 
tress, and  MY  DELIVERER;  The 
God  of  my  rock;  in  Him  will  I trust, 

He  is  my  shield,  and  the  horn  of  my 
salvation,  my  high  tower,  and  my 
refuge,  my  Saviour;  Thau  savest  me 
from  violence”  (II.  Sam.  22:2-3). 


Under  the  Shadow  of  the 
Almighty 

«rHE  LONG  VOYAGE  was  nearing  its 
ill  end.  For  days  our  stately  ship  had 
steamed  its  way  steadily  over  the  blue 
waters  of  the  Pacific,  sometimes  gliding  along 
as  lightly  as  a bird,  and  then  again  plough- 
ing heavily  through  stormy  seas,  leaving  a 
deep  furrow  in  the  blue  waters. 

We  had  passed  Japan  and  its  beautiful 
Island  Sea,  and  were  now  tossing  in  the 

muddy  waters  of  the  Yellow  Sea  at  the 

mouth  of  the  great  river  Yangtse.  In  the 

near  distance  a dim  line  appeared  on  the 

horizon.  It  wag  not  the  familiar  line  of  sky 
and  water  meeting.  It  was  land,  yes,  the 
land  of  Sinim.  It  was  China  where  we  were 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  our  lives. 

Eagerly  we  watched  the  scenes  about  us  as 
we  approached  the  mainland.  Huge  vessels 
of  every  type,  flying  flags  of  almost  every 
nation,  floated  at  anchor  near  us.  Innumer- 
able small  craft — fishing  vessels— dotted  the 
waters  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see.  As  the 
ship’s  tender  proceeded  up  the  Whangpoo 
River  and  neared  the  city  of  Shanghai,  on 
either  shore  warehouses  and  other  foreign- 
built  buildings  came  into  view.  The  peo- 
ple to  whom  we  were  going  might  not  know 
our  God,  but  they  were  civilized — that  was 
everywhere  in  evidence.  At  last  the  foreign 
settlement  with  its  famous  “bund”  lay  before 
us.  Our  journey  was  over.  We  were  in  China. 
Taking  rickshaws  we  were  presently  speed- 
ing quietly  up  the  streets  of  this  strange 
city.  I looked  about  on  every  side,  scarcely 
able  to  realize  that  it  was  indeed  I myself 
who  was  in  this  ancient  land. 


4 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


THE  SURRENDER 

In  my  youth  I faced  a life  of  invalidism.  By 
the  time  I was  twenty-one  years  of  age  “writ- 
er’s paralysis”  had  so  spread  throughout  my 
body  that  only  my  right  limb  remained  normal. 
The  specialist’s  verdict  was:  “Get  her  crutches 
and  a wheel  chair.”  In  my  extremity  I 
cried  to  God.  Others  were  praying  too.  One 
night  after  two  weeks  spent  in  prayer  the 
Lord  met  me.  Though  I saw  no  form,  nor 
did  I hear  a voice,  yet  I was  as  conscious 
of  His  presence  as  though  I saw  and  heard 
Him.  My  life  was  laid  at  His  feet.  All  my 
time,  my  talents,  my  service,  my  thoughts 
were  to  be  His,  if  He  would  restore  to 
health  others  of  my  family  who  were  ill, 
and  keep  me  from  becoming  helpless.  Like 
Jacob,  I had  said,  “If  God  will  . . . then 

I will.”  It  was  the  consecration  of  a young, 
untried  heart,  but  it  was  a real  consecra- 
tion. God,  who  “in  all  their  affliction  was 
afflicted”  that  night  stretched  out  His  hand, 
and  we  were  all  restored  to  health.  “Bless 
the  Lord,  O my  soul,  and  forget  not  all 
His  benefits;  Who  forgiveth  all  thine  in- 
iquities; Who  healeth  all  thy  diseases.” 

THE  MISSION  FIELD 

Everything  went  on  very  smoothly  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  then,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  I 
all  but  forgot  my  consecration  and  made  plans 
of  my  own.  But  “God  is  faithful’’ — He  did  not 
forget.  By  strong  cords  He  drew  me,  and 
the  life  that  had  been  promised  Him  was 
again  yielded  to  His  hands,  but  not  with  the 
sweetness  and  freshness  of  the  former  sur- 
render. However,  thera  was  in  my  heart  a 
fixed  purpose  to  obey  God,  and  as  a result 
within  a few  years  I found  myself  in  China 
as  the  wife  of  a missionary. 

My  time  was  much  occupied  with  home 
duties.  We  had  taken  out  with  us  a son 
a year  oid;  the  following  year  a little 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


5 


daughter  had  come  to  bless  our  home,  and 
later  another  son.  My  Chinese  teacher  came 
every  day  from  nine  to  eleven.  Sometimes 
during  the  lesson  there  was  one  baby  on  my 
knee,  and  often  two;  the  children  were  my 
first  care.  But  in  one  way  or  another  the 
Chinese  lessons  were  kept  up,  and  little  by 
little  I was,  with  God’s  help,  acquiring  the 
use  of  this  difficult  language.  Thus  more 
than  three  years  passed.  Meantime,  our 
associates  in  the  mission  had  returned  home 
on  furlough  leaving  us  alone. 

ON  NO  MAN’S  FOUNDATION 

Early  in  1903,  three  men  from  an  out-of-the- 
way  place  in  an  adjoining  province  came  to  our 
chapel  in  Shanghai.  They  had  obtained  certain 
tracts  published  by  the  mission,  and  had  come 
to  enquire  further.  By  arrangement  two  help- 
ers followed  them  on  their  return  to  make 
an  itinerary  throughout  the  region  where 
they  said  there  was  already  an  awakening. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  evangelization 
of  a region  in  the  hills  of  Chekiang,  lying 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  missions  then  at  work 
in  this  province.  Except  for  the  activities  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church  it  was  un- 
evangelized. 

The  people  were  unusually  illiterate.  The 
opium  den  was  in  evidence  everywhere  with 
its  consequent  poverty  and  crime  and  ex- 
acted an  unusually  heavy  toll  from  the  poor 
people.  Robberies  were  frequent,  especially 
at  the  New  Year  season,  travel  was  dan- 
gerous, and  wealth  insecure.  Robber  bands 
of  desperate  characters,  recruited  in  the  opium 
dens,  were  ready  for  a price  to  raid  the 
homes  of  the  wealthy.  The  gentry,  the  shop- 
keeper and  the  common  people  alike  stood 
in  perpetual  terror. 

THE  DEMAND  FOR  THE  GOSPEL 

The  interest  begun  in  this  way,  and  kept 
alive  through  the  occasional  visits  of  native 


6 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


helpers,  continued  until  the  demand  for  the 
“foreigner”  to  come  to  their  help  became  im- 
perative. Few  could  read,  and  some  were 
asking  to  be  taught  the  Romanized  colloquial, 
that  they  might  read  their  New  Testament 
and  hymn  book.  Certain  opium  smokers  had 
begun  to  hope  for  freedom  through  the 
mighty  name  of  Jesus.  The  sick  were  ask- 
ing to  be  taught  and  prayed  with  for  heal- 
ing. Others  wanted  to  know  the  way  of 
salvation  more  perfectly.  In  proof  of  their 
sincerity  and  determination  to  have  a Gospel 
work  established  among  them,  the  people 
themselves  had  provided  a large  farmhouse 
as  a meeting  place.  This  building  was  suit- 
able both  for  a church  and  for  a school, 
and  possessed  besides  facilities  for  the  hous- 
ing of  those  who  hoped  to  be  gathered 
together  for  instruction  and  help. 

OFF  TO  THE  HILLS  OF  CHEKIANG 

Two  days  before  Chinese  New  Year,  1905, 
Mr.  Kennedy  set  out  from  Shanghai  in  com- 
pany with  a man  familiar  with  this  hill  region. 
Their  purpose  was  to  go  over  the  field 
rapidly,  and  to  arrange  for  a forty-day  school 
session,  which  would  close  in  time  for  the 
farmers  to  return  to  their  homes  before  the 
work  of  early  spring.  The  first  lap  of  the 
journey  was  by  steam  launch  to  Hangchow, 
taking  a night  and  a day.  Awakening  on 
the  morning  of  the  second  day,  they  found 
their  houseboat  anchored  at  a village  ninety 
li  (thirty  miles)  from  their  destination.  Their 
journey  by  water  had  come  to  an  end.  Let- 
ters had  been  sent  on  ahead  to  acquaint  the 
people  with  their  coming;  consequently  sev- 
eral men  were  on  hand  at  this  village  to 
accompany  them  back  into  the  hills.  With 
a tramp  of  thirty  miles  before  them,  they 
partook  of  a hasty  breakfast,  and,  after  a 
few  hurried  preparations,  were  on  the  road. 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


7 


WARNINGS 

As  the  party  neared  the  first  walled  city, 
where  the  local  magistrate  lived,  one  of  the 
countrymen  proposed  that  Mr.  Kennedy  go  to 
the  yamen  and  ask  for  a guard  of  soldiers. 
Seeing  no  reason,  however,  for  such  precaution, 
Mr.  Kennedy  declined.  Besides,  he  reasoned, 
how  could  he  go  into  the  country  guarded  by 
soldiers,  and  then  expect  those  who  hearkened 
to  the  Gospel  message  to  look  to  God,  and  to 
Him  only,  in  all  the  vicissitudes  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  native  Christians?  As  they  went  on 
their  way  it  became  evident  from  their  con- 
versation and  conduct  that  these  men  were 
genuinely  afraid.  On  passing  a certain  point, 
one  said,  “A  man  was  robbed  here  two  days 
ago.”  At  another  turn  in  the  road,  a second 
exclaimed,  “Last  year  a man  was  robbed 
here.”  Then,  as  the  men,  now  thoroughly 
weary,  climbed  the  last  summit  of  their 
mountain  path,  and  rested  themselves  before 
making  the  steep  descent,  another  spoke  up: 
“Robbers  killed  a man  here.”  But  all  this 
had  been  as  idle  talk  to  the  missionary.  The 
thought  that  he — a foreigner — was  in  any 
danger  from  the  desperate  characters  that 
were  in  such  evidence,  was  not  for  one  mo- 
ment entertained.  There  was  earnest  work 
to  do.  The  days  were  full  of  toil  and  re- 
sponsibility, and  tales  of  robber  doings  passed 
out  of  mind.  There  were  journeys  to  be 
taken  throughout  the  villages  and  hamlets  to 
make  the  acquaintance  of  the  Christians  and 
enquirers,  and  consult  with  them  over  the 
details  of  the  long-promised  school  session. 
This  done,  the  old  farmhouse  had  to  be  thor- 
oughly cleaned,  repaired  and  put  in  order. 
The  day  for  the  opening  found  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy established  in  an  upper  room  in  one 
corner  of  the  roomy  building. 

THE  MISTAKE? 

Meanwhile  I was  busy  in  Shanghai  with  my 
children  and  household  duties,  studying  the 


8 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


language,  and  assisting  in  the  care  of  the  local 
chapel.  A month  passed,  when  a letter  came 
from  my  husband  asking  for  supplies.  Two 
boxes  were  made  ready  containing  Bibles, 
Testaments,  tracts,  hymn  books  and  provisions; 
also  a small  sum  of  money.  For  convenience 
in  passing  the  native  customs  en  route,  I 
was  instructed  to  have  the  contents  written 
plainly  on  the  outside  of  each  package.  Thus 
the  word  “money,”  written  in  plain  everyday 
Chinese  characters  for  all  eyes  to  see  ap- 
peared on  one  box.  The  bearer  who  was 
sent  down  to  the  boat-landing  for  the  sup- 
plies read  the  labels,  and  not  knowing  that 
the  box  hid  only  a trifling  sum  of  money, 
became  concerned  for  his  own  persona! 
safety.  Therefore,  in  passing  the  magistrate’s 
residence,  he  called  in,  exhibited  his  strange- 
looking  boxes,  called  attention  to  their  con- 
tents, and  asked  for  a guard  of  soldiers  to 
protect  the  “foreign  teacher’s”  goods.  The 
sight  of  a man  hustling  along  with  a foreign- 
made  box  swinging  from  either  end  of  his 
bamboo  carrying-pole,  and  with  a soldier 
escort,  naturally  enough  caught  the  eye  of 
the  simple-minded  country  people  who  passed 
him  on  the  way. 

A GLIMPSE  OF  NATIVE  LIFE 

The  tea-shop  is  China’s  congregating  place, 
be  it  village,  or  town,  or  city,  and  like  the  net 
that  is  cast  into  the  sea,  it  “gathers  of 
every  kind.”  As  our  panting,  perspiring 
bearer  shifted  his  load  at  this  wayside  rest- 
ing place,  caught  his  breath  and  mopped  the 
perspiration  from  his  face,  he,  with  his  soldier 
escort,  was  the  center  of  all  eyes.  While 
he  sipped  his  tea  among  the  noisy  comers 
and  goers,  and  snatched  a whiff  and  more 
from  his  pipe,  the  village  idlers  caught  sight 
of  the  word  “money.”  This  started  gossip 
and  speculation.  They  looked  at  one  anothei. 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


9 


What  could  it  all  mean?  They  quizzed  the 
bearer.  They  questioned  the  soldiers.  They 
gathered  in  little  groups  as  the  travelers 
went  their  way,  and  speculated  and  wondered 
as  they  watched  them  out  of  sight.  So  on 
it  went  through  town  and  village  for  the 
whole  seventy  li  till  nightfall,  until  the  weary 
brearer  dropped  his  heavy  load  within  the 
gate  of  the  farmhouse  chapel. 

We  of  other  lands  little  appreciate  how 
the  wildest  of  rumors  will  spring  up  over- 
night among  such  folk.  The  story  soon  be- 
came current  that  these  boxes  were  filled 
with  Mexican  dollars  with  which  to  build  a 
church;  but  this  word  did  not  reach  the 
foreigner’s  ears.  He  was  engrossed  in  his 
work.  (However,  Mr.  Kennedy  did  recall 
later  that  more  than  the  usual  number  of 
strangers  had  been  about  the  school  after 
the  arrival  of  his  supplies.)  One  does  not 
think  it  strange  in  China  to  see  curio.us 
groups  of  people  standing  about.  The  Chinese 
are  accustomed  to  look  into  things  very 
familiarly;  they  like  to  examine  the  foreigner’s 
clothing;  to  see  how  it  is  fastened  on;  to 
know  if  a woman’s  hair  is  tight  on  her 
head;  to  see  what  kind  of  clothes  the  baby 
wears,  etc.  Mr.  Kennedy  did  know,  of 
course,  that  people  had  been  examining  his 
belongings,  and  peering  into  his  boxes,  but 
being  aware  that,  they  contained  nothing  of 
any  interest  or  value  to  anyone  outside  of 
the  people  in  the  building,  he  was  little  con- 
cerned. 

The  school  season  had  been  passing  rapidly, 
and  it  was  now  within  ten  days  of  the  time 
set  for  closing.  Enthusiasm  had  been  grow- 
ing. Believers  were  quickened;  some  had 
been  saved,  and  others  had  been  very  won- 
derfully healed.  Opium  smokers  who  had 
come  for  deliverance  had  been  set  free,  and 
praise  and  thanksgiving  pervaded  the  atmos- 
phere. 


10 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


“IN  PERILS  OF  ROBBERS” 

On  the  night  of  Wednesday,  April  12th,  the 
forty  or  more  in  the  building  had  retired  as 
usual.  As  Mr.  Kennedy  sat  in  his  room  that 
night,  occupied  with  the  usual  details  that  closed 
his  day’s  work,  he  thought  he  heard  some- 
one stir  under  his  bed;  but  thinking  he 
must  just  have  fancied  it,  retired  as  usual, 
and  was  soon  sound  asleep.  Sometime  after 
midnight  he  was  aroused  by  the  firing  of 
giant  firecrackers  and  a veritable  bedlam  of 
men’s  voices  just  outside  his  door.  An  in- 
stant later  the  door  flew  open  and  a band 
of  men,  estimated  at  from  twenty  to  forty, 
rushed  in  upon  him.  (It  was  learned  later 
that  there  actually  were  two  men  under  the 
bed,  who  during  the  night  had  unlocked 
the  doors,  and  let  the  bandits  into  the  build- 
ing.) They  carried  torches,  and  were 
armed,  we  were  told,  with  clubs,  pistols, 
knives  and  axes.  The  knife  every  hill-man 
carries  is  shaped  somewhat  like  a Mexican 
machete;  it  has  a short  handle,  with  a heavy 
steel  blade  about  sixteen  inches  long.  These 
knives  are  used  to  cut  the  bamboo  and 
gather  the  brush  which  the  people  use  for 
firewood.  A formidable  weapon  indeed  with 
which  to  attack  a man. 

Blinded  by  the  glare  of  their  flaming 
torches  and  dazed  by  the  heavy  blows  he 
was  receiving  upon  his  head,  Mr.  Kennedy 
raised  himself  upon  the  right  elbow,  and 
thus  exposed  the  left  shoulder  and  side  to 
attack.  A stroke  in  the  forehead  from  the 
keen  blade  of  a carpenter's  axe  severed  the 
veins,  blood  flowing  down  over  his  face, 
filling  and  blinding  the  eyes.  An  instant 
more  and  he  was  out  of  bed,  struggling  to 
keep  upon  his  feet,  as  the  howling  mob 
hustled  him  toward  the  center  of  the  room. 
Strangely  enough,  during  all  this  experience 
he  supposed  himself  to  be  dreaming,  until 
someone  from  behind  struck  him  a heavy 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


11 


blow  on  the  top  of  the  skull.  This  stroke 
felled  him,  and  as  he  sank  limp  and  help- 
less to  the  floor  the  realization  flashed  over 
him  that  this  was  no  dream.  Then  every- 
thing became  a blank.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy’s helper,  who  occupied  the  adjoining 
room,  had  heroically  come  in  among  the 
mob.  Warding  off  their  blows  at  the  risk 
cf  his  own  life,  he  attempted  to  arouse  the 
teacher.  Though  Mr.  Kennedy  could  hear 
the  faithful  man  calling  to  him,  and  plead- 
ing with  the  maddened  mob  to  desist,  he  was 
unable  to  move  a muscle.  My  husband’s 
last  recollection  was  of  being  lifted,  a dead 
weight,  upon  the  back  of  the  Chinaman,  who, 
we  were  told,  then  backed  his  unconscious 
burden  into  the  corner  of  the  room  and 
stood  off  the  mob  till  they  disappeared. 

EVIL  TIDINGS 

Next  morning,  Thursday,  before  break  of  day 
a messenger  set  out  for  Shanghai  to  bear  the 
tidings.  The  forty  men  and  boys  who  were  in 
the  school  had  fled  pell-mell  leaving  behind 
everything  except  what  they  had  upon  their 
persons.  The  native  Christians  remembered 
the  atrocities  of  the  Boxers  of  five  years  before, 
and  wondered  whether  another  uprising  might 
be  upon  them.  Some  were  declaring  that  the 
men  wore  the  insignia  of  some  secret  so- 
ciety. Rumors  were  afloat,  and  consternation 
held  the  entire  country-side  in  its  grip. 

For  some  months  I had  had  a premonition 
that  we  were  soon  to  return  to  America. 
Nobusan,  my  Japanese  nursemaid  who  was 
an  earnest  Christian,  had  the  same  feeling, 
and  we  sometimes  talked  of  it  in  a specula- 
tive way  and  wondered  what  could  possibly 
happen  that  would  take  me  back  home  be- 
fore furlough.  I seemed  impelled  to  hasten 
with  my  sewing,  and  had  once  caught  my- 
self saying,  “These  clothes  will  not  do  for 
steamer  wear.” 


12 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


“WHAT  SHALL  I DO?” 

It  was  Saturday  afternoon.  I was  putting 
away  the  little  garments  now  all  finished,  when 
Nobusan  came  to  me  with  the  word  that  my 
teacher  wanted  to  see  me.  “I  tink  someting 
awful  happen,”  she  said.  As  I went  to  meet 
him,  he  came  hurriedly  toward  me,  his  face 
ashen  gray,  and  his  eyes  bloodshot  with  terror, 
saying  in  English,  “Mr.  Kennedy  has  been 
attacked  by  robbers!  His  head  has  beer, 
chopped  open  with  an  ax,  and  the  ‘stuff’  is 
running  out!”  I asked  him  to  repeat  in 
Chinese  what  he  had  said.  I could  not  com- 
prehend at  first  that  such  a thing  could  have 
happened,  but  after  talking  with  the  mes- 
senger myself  I knew  that  Mr.  Kennedy  had 
met  with  some  great  calamity.  “What  shall 
I do?”  I questioned.  “Go  to  the  American 
consul.” 

I summoned  rickshaws  though  I knew  1 
had  no  money  to  pay  for  them.  Our  re- 
mittance from  the  organization  which  waf 
supporting  us  had  failed  to  come  and  1 
had  only  a few  cents.  On  reaching  the  con- 
sulate we  were  informed  by  an  official  that 
the  consul  was  out  and  that  we  could  nol 
see  him  before  seven  that  night.  My  per 
plexities  were  increasing.  If  help  were  not 
sent  at  four  o’clock,  there  would  be  a delaj 
of  twenty-four  hours.  The  clerk  on  hearing 
our  story  was  most  kind  and  attentive.  “Car 
I do  anything  for  you?”  he  asked.  Then  I 
who  had  never  before  known  what  it  mean 
to  be  without  money,  told  him  that  the  las 
mail  had  failed  to  bring  our  expected  re 
mittance,  and  that  we  were  without  funds 
He  very  kindly  loaned  me  the  money 
needed.  With  this  the  rickshaw  men  wer 
paid;  supplies  were  purchased  and  I wa 
able  to  send  our  cook  that  same  afternooi 
with  a few  things  hastily  gotten  together 
in  the  hope  that  he  would  be  able  to  read 
Mr.  Kennedy  and  care  for  him. 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


13 


AT  THE  CONSULATE 

Three  hours  later  a big  red  automobile  pulled 
up  at  our  door.  The  American  consul  called 
and  investigations  were  under  way.  Summoned 
to  the  consulate  the  next  morning,  I was  ques- 
tioned as  I entered  the  door,  “How  much 
do  you  want?" 

“Want  for  what?”  said  I.  “How  much  do 
you  want  to  settle?”  “Oh,”  I replied,  with- 
out a moment’s  hesitation,  “we  have  come 
to  China  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  if  need 
be  to  give  up  our  lives.  I want  nothing.” 
They  urged  upon  me  to  ask  indemnity,  but 
the  thought  of  compensation  was  not  in  my 
mind:  If  my  husband  were  dead,  he  was  with 
the  Lord.  If  he  were  alive,  God  would  take 
care  of  us. 

The  matter  fell  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  vice-consul  stationed  at  Hangchow  who 
fortunately  was  in  Shanghai  at  this  time.  He 
informed  me  that  he  was  planning  to  go  to 
Mr.  Kennedy’s  assistance  at  once,  adding, 
however,  that  thus  far  he  had  been  unable 
to  secure  a boat.  I went  home,  and  sent 
men  out  to  find  a boat.  Back  and  forth  I 
went  to  the  consulate  four  times  that  day 
in  the  pouring  rain,  always  getting  that 
same  word,  “The  boats  are  all  taken.”  At 
two-thirty,  an  hour  and  a half  before  the 
boats  were  to  leave,  I went  home  to  care 
for  the  baby.  While  there  Nohusan  and  I 
went  to  our  knees  and  took  a boat  by  faith. 
Within  thirty  minutes  one  of  the  men  re- 
turned saying  a boat  had  been  secured. 
Praising  God  for  this  answer  to  prayer,  I 
informed  the  vice-consul  at  once,  then  went 
to  the  jetty  and  remained  there  till  he  and 
his  party  were  off.  It  seemed  advisable  to 
send  certain  of  our  Chinese  men  with  him. 
All  was  uncertainty.  No  one  knew  what  had 
happened.  Was  it  another  Boxer  uprising? 
Were  the  Christians  again  in  danger?  Such 
questions  were  upon  everyone’s  lips;  and  it 


14 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


was  expecting  much  to  ask  the  Chinese  to 
join  this  party,  and  thus  possibly  jeopardize 
their  lives. 

DEEPENING  DARKNESS 
On  Sunday  evening  the  interpreter  from  the 
consulate  called.  He  was  a dear  fatherly  old 
gentleman,  a physician,  and  a man  of  long 
experience  among  the  Chinese.  Putting  his 
hand  upon  my  shoulder,  he  said,  “I  am  so 
sorry  for  you.  Even  allowing  for  all  Chinese 
exaggeration,  your  husband  cannot  be  living.” 

My  heart  was  crushed.  My  head  was 
bowed.  What  did  all  this  mean?  We  had 
prayed  that  our  ministry  might  be  in  the 
power  and  demonstration  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  God  had  so  graciously  answered.  Souls 
had  been  saved  and  blessed,  and  the  sick 
healed.  How  could  such  disaster  follow 
so  closely  upon  answered  prayer?  Why  should 
the  work  be  cut  off  in  this  way?  I felt 
that  we  had  failed  God,  or  sinned,  and  that 
His  face  was  hidden  from  us.  The  ninety- 
first  Psalm,  which  was  our  household  Psalm, 
promised  us  “There  shall  no  evil  befall 
thee.”  Evidently  we  were  not  making  “the 
Most  High”  our  “habitation;”  but  where  we 
had  failed  I did  not  know.  We  had  much 
to  learn,  as  time  has  proven,  about  “dwelling 
in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High.”  In 
anguish  of  soul  I went  about  scarcely  daring 
to  raise  my  head,  always  questioning,  “Why? 
Why?” 

“COMFORTED  OF  GOD” 

On  Monday  while  occupied  with  my  daily 
work  I heard  the  still  small  voice,  “Lo,  I am 
with  you  alway.”  I stopped  and  stood  still 
God  had  spoken.  But  so  stunned  was  my  heart 
that  I could  not  recall  the  connection  ir 
which  these  familiar  words  were  spoken 
Turning  to  the  concordance  I found  the 
passage:  “Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  na 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


15 


tions  ....  and,  lo,  I am  with  you  alway.” 
“O  Lord,”  I said,  “that  is  what  we  have 
done.  We  have  gone  out  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  though 
we  may  not  have  done  it  very  well,  we  have 
done  the  best  we  could.”  From  that  mo- 
ment my  burden  was  gone.  God  was  with 
us — O wonderful  thought!  It  filled  my  heart 
with  joy.  After  that  it  seemed  to  me  that 
nothing  else  mattered.  Supposing  that  Mr. 
Kennedy  were  dead,  supposing  he  were  worse 
than  dead — God  was  with  us! 

INDEMNITY? 

Some  days  later,  when  the  news  of  our  trou- 
ble became  more  generally  known  to  the  public, 
one  of  our  Chinese  Christians  came  to  me  and 
told  me  that  posters  written  in  Chinese  had 
been  put  up  in  conspicuous  places  all  over 
town,  stating  that  Mrs.  Kennedy  was  going  to 
ask  large  indemnity.  He  even  fell  at  my  feet 
and  implored  me  not  to  do  so.  He  said  it  would 
make  the  over-taxed  people  still  more  heavily 
burdened.  “But,”  he  added,  “I  told  them 
you  were  a real  Christian,  and  that  you  would 
not  ask  for  money.”  This,  coming  from  a 
Chinese  who  had  been  a convert  but  a short 
time,  rather  startled  me.  This  expressipn 
of  the  mind  and  hope  of  our  little  band 
of  Christians  was  a source  of  strength,  and 
a confirmation  to  my  stand  at  the  consulate. 
Letters,  too,  were  coming  from  the  foreign 
community  at  this  time,  urging  me  to  ask 
for  indemnity,  but  the  answer  I had  given 
the  consul — the  first  impulse  of  my  heart — 
remained  unchanged.  The  decision  had  been 
made,  and  I thanked  God  that  he  had  kejst 
me  true  to  my  convictions. 

A FRIEND  IN  NEED 

One  by  one  the  days  passed,  but  no  word 
reached  us.  We  were  in  such  sore  need  of 
money.  I wanted  to  send  a cable  to  America 


16 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


but  could  not.  One  night,  much  disheartened, 
Nobusan  and  I sat  talking.  That  day  I had 
gone  to  the  bank  to  borrow  money.  For  two 
hours  I had  stood  in  the  corridor  waiting  for  an 
opportunity  to  speak  to  the  manager.  I hjd 
tried  to  get  a loan  on  our  furniture — had  of- 
fered to  strip  the  house  of  all  furniture  ex- 
cept the  beds;  but  all  in  vain.  It  had  not 
once  occurred  to  me  to  ask  help  of  our 
friends.  Nobusan  said  she  thought  I should 
write  to  our  Japanese  friends  for  money.  I 
said  to  her,  “No,  the  Lord  will  make  money 
rain  from  heaven  before  He  will  see  us  suf- 
fer.” About  nine  o’clock  the  door  bell  rang. 
At  the  entrance  stood  Mr.  Edward  Evans 
of  the  Missionary  Home,  a gentleman  whom 
I knew  but  slightly.  He  had  called,  he 
said,  to  ask  if  the  account  in  that  day’s  paper 
referred  to  my  husband,  or  to  another  Mr. 
Kennedy.  God  sent  this  man  to  me.  He 
knelt  and  prayed.  It  seemed  to  me  the 
heavens  were  opened.  He  proved  to  be  a 
friend  in  need.  He  went  with  me  to  the 
bank,  and  to  the  cable  office  and  helped  me 
in  every  way. 

Within  a few  days  a letter  came  from 
Japan  containing  twenty-five  dollars.  The 
sender  wrote  that  she  was  definitely  told 
by  the  Lord:  “Send  the  Kennedys  twenty- 
five  dollars  at  once.”  Later,  in  a second  let- 
ter, she  said:  “Now  I know  why  I sent 
that  money.  I have  just  read  in  the  Kobe 
paper  of  Mr.  Kennedy’s  injury  and  death.” 
The  children  of  Israel  “spake  against  God; 
they  said,  can  God  furnish  a table  in  the 
wilderness?”  He  can. 

SUMMONED  TO  HANGCHOW 

On  Thursday,  nine  days  after  Mr.  Kennedy’s 
injury,  I was  again  summoned  to  the  consulate, 
and  there  directed  to  be  ready  at  four  o’clock 
to  go  to  my  husband  who,  I was  informed, 
was  alive  and  had  been  taken  to  the  home 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


17 


of  Dr.  D.  Duncan  Main  of  Hangchow.  It 
was  then  after  three,  and  I was  over  a 
mile  from  home.  A telegram  had  to  be 
sent  to  friends  in  Hangchow,  and  supplies 
for  the  journey  must  be  ordered.  Calling 
a rickshaw  I hurried  to  the  compradore’s. 
where  I ordered  supplies,  asking  that  they 
be  delivered  at  once.  Then  hurrying  home, 
I bade  my  house-boy  go  at  once  to  a neigh- 
bor and  borrow  all  her  servants.  A re- 
quest was  sent  to  an  English  woman  who 
lived  near  by  to  come  and  help  me  pack. 
Quickly  I pulled  the  bedding  off,  threw  it 
to  the  Chinese  “boys"  who  rolled  it  up 
and,  placing  it  on  wheelbarrows,  hurried  it 
to  the  boat-landing  a mile  or  more  away. 
Taking  my  clothes  from  the  clothes-press, 
I passed  them  to  my  English  friend  who 
rapidly  but  neatly  packed  them  into  my 
trunk.  Then  another  boy  hurried  with  that 
to  the  boat.  Our  party — three  small  children, 
the  Japanese  nurse  and  myself — were  at  the 
landing  on  time.  God  had  surely  helped 
us,  for  we  had  with  us  food,  water,  cook- 
ing utensils  and  other  supplies  for  a twenty- 
four  hours’  journey,  and  also  bedding  and 
clothing  for  an  indefinite  period.  The  trav- 
eler in  China  in  those  days  had  to  take 
with  him  all  these  necessities. 

THE  JOURNEY 

We  traveled  to  Hangchow  by  steam  launch, 
to  which  were  attached  two  houseboats.  In  the 
first  one  was  our  escort,  which  consisted  of 
three  American  gentlemen.  Our  party  was  in 
the  other  houseboat.  All  that  night  it  contin- 
ued to  rain.  We  did  not  once  remove  any  of 
our  clothing,  not  even  our  wraps,  as  the 
boat  was  so  cold  and  damp.  On  reaching 
Hangchow  our  boats  were  loosed,  and  left 
standing  by  the  canal  bank.  In  the  gathering 
darkness  and  driving  rain  we  waited.  I 
stood  on  the  top  of  the  boat  and  called 


18  UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


for  a boatman.  But  none  appeared.  After 
some  time  a boatman  leisurely  came  up  and 
motioned  to  us  to  get  into  his  boat.  Bag- 
gage and  passengers  were  transferred,  and 
we  were  again  on  our  way.  This  boat  was 
necessarily  smaller,  as  we  were  to  make  oui 
way  through  the  native  city  passing  under 
low-arched  bridges.  After  rowing  for  about 
an  hour  our  boatman  drew  his  craft  to  the 
canal  bank  and  silently  left  us.  We  waited 
and  waited,  but  he  did  not  return.  It  was 
dark  now  and  the  rain  still  fell  mercilessly. 
Again  I called  and  called  for  a boatman. 
After  what  seemed  the  longest  time,  we 
could  see  in  the  darkness  a boat  coming 
our  way.  It  was  such  a little  thing,  with 
only  a thatch  covering;  but  we  crowded  into 
it,  baggage,  escort,  babies,  nurse-maid,  my- 
self, and  all.  Finally  we  reached  Pagoda 
Hill,  where  our  escort  left  us,  going  directly 
to  the  consulate.  That  was  the  last  we  saw 
of  them. 

We  waited  on  alone.  Finally  out  of  the 
darkness  came  a shout  from  the  top  of  the 
hill:  “How  many  ‘bearers’  does  the  foreign 
woman  want?”  The  “foreign  woman”  in- 
wardly thanked  God  that  she  could  under- 
stand Chinese,  and  called  back  up  the  hill 
that  she  had  three  loads  of  baggage.  Then 
another  voice  called  from  the  hill-top,  “How 
many  sedan  chairs  does  the  foreign  woman 
want?”  The  foreign  woman  wanted  three 
sedan  chairs.  Then,  entrusting  my  baggage 
to  coolies,  I started  up  the  hill  with  my 
three  babies  and  nurse-maid.  After  much 
parleying,  and  repeated  directions,  our  little 
caravan  was  finally  arranged.  The  bearers 
with  the  baggage  went  ahead.  I followed  in 
the  first  sedan  chair  with  the  baby;  in  the 
second  was  my  little  four-year-old  boy;  and 
in  the  third,  Nobusan  with  my  two-year-old 
daughter. 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


19 


TRAVELING  BY  SEDAN 

On  we  went  through  the  rain  and  the  dark- 
ness, the  water  and  mud  splashing  as  the  men 
hurried  along.  Our  chair  bearers  were  larger 
men  than  we  were  accustomed  to  see  in  Shang- 
hai, and  they  spoke  in  such  loud  voices.  It  is 
a custom  among  these  bearers,  as  they  travel 
along,  to  call  to  each  other.  The  first  bearer 
calls  out  to  the  people  in  front  to  get  out 
of  the  way,  the  second  answers,  and  each 
one  in  turn  calls  to  the  one  following  him. 
As  these  men  called  out  in  their  wild,  gut- 
teral  tones,  the  sound  echoed  and  re-echoed 
through  the  narrow  streets.  Presently  above 
the  noise  of  splashing  water  and  falling  rain, 
above  the  din  of  shrieking  coolies,  I heard 
the  shrill  voice  of  my  little  son  screaming 
in  terror  from  his  sedan.  I knew  he  was 
frightened,  riding  alone,  and  not  seeing 
mother.  I called  to  the  bearer  ahead  to  stop. 
I called  again  and  again,  but  to  no  avail. 
Finally,  with  the  aid  of  my  umbrella  I 
secured  his  attention.  He  stopped  angrily. 
I apologized,  and  told  him  that  the  little 
foreign  boy  was  afraid.  So  we  all  stopped 
while  I called  to  the  little  lad  that  he  must 
not  be  afraid  for  mother  with  the  baby  was 
in  the  first  sedan,  and  Nobusan  was  behind 
him  with  sister.  But  he  was  inconsolable. 
So  I told  him  I would  hold  my  hand  out- 
side the  window  of  my  chair  all  the  time,  and 
when  there  was  a flash  of  lightning  or  a 
light  of  any  kind,  he  would  see  mother’s 
hand,  and  would  know  that  all  was  well. 
With  this  he  was  satisfied.  Again  we  took 
up  our  journey  and  were  soon  among 
friends. 

Taking  my  older  boy  with  me,  I went  at 
once  to  my  husband.  I found  him  conscious 
and  free  from  pain.  At  five  o’clock  the  next 
morning,  however,  the  Chinese  attendant 
came  for  us,  saying  that  Mr.  Kennedy  was 


20 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


dying,  and  wanted  to  see  his  children.  He 
had  had  a very  bad  night. 

LEARNING  THE  DETAILS 

From  the  Chinese  who  had  been  with  my 
husband  I now  learned  for  the  first  time  the  de- 
tails of  what  had  actually  taken  place  in  the 
hills.  The  lapse  of  consciousness  had  continued 
from  Wednesday  at  midnight  until  twilight  of 
Saturday  evening.  Then  the  mind  began 
slowly  to  work  and  the  memory  to  return. 
The  farmhouse  had  been  looted.  Everything 
that  Mr.  Kennedy  had  with  him  had  been 
stolen — his  clothing,  bedding,  books — even  his 
Bible.  (The  loss  of  the  Bible  which  he  had 
carried  throughout  college  and  seminary  days 
was  keenly  felt  by  him,  but  the  Book  was 
afterward  found  lying  on  a hillside  and  re- 
turned to  us.)  The  only  article  of  clothing 
left  to  him  was  the  blood-soaked  coat  of 
his  pajamas.  In  their  search  for  money  the 
robbers  took  everything.  Not  finding  the 
coveted  cash  in  the  loot,  they  burned  such 
things  as  were  of  no  value  to  them  for  fear 
of  being  discovered  with  foreign  articles  in 
their  possession.  In  the  embers  of  the  fire 
were  found  the  buttons  of  his  clothes. 

Every  particle  of  the  bedding  and  clothing 
of  the  forty  people  had  been  carried  off, 
with  the  exception  of  one  foul  smelling  quilt 
with  which  they  covered  my  husband.  Ten 
men  and  boys,  some  of  them  but  a short  time 
before  “heathen,”  had  knelt  about  a pallet 
of  straw  and  the  old  foul  quilt  covering  an 
all  but  lifeless  body  and  prayed.  They 
prayed  again.  Nor  would  they  be  denied.  A 
third  time  they  prayed,  and  continued  to 
pray  until  the  severed  arteries  ceased  to  flow. 
Three  days  passed  during  which  they  hoped 
on,  prayed  on  still,  that  the  body  from  which 
all  apparent  life  and  warmth  had  gone,  might 
live  again. 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


21 


“DELIVERED  FROM  SO  GREAT  A 
DEATH” 

The  news  had  gone  over  the  mountain  that 
“Kae  Sin-sang  was  alive — come  back  to  life 
again!”  Past  midnight  on  the  morning  of 
the  fourth  day  one  of  the  ten  who  had 
stayed  to  pray  burst  into  the  room  where 
Mr.  Kennedy  was.  After  fighting  with  his 
doubts  all  this  time  he  had  got  the  news 
at  last  that  his  prayers  were  answered.  Be- 
side himself  with  joy,  he  wanted  all  the 
world  (even  the  semi-conscious  man  before 
him)  to  know  that  after  three  days  their 
foreign  teacher,  like  Jesus,  had  been  raised 
to  life.  Be  that  as  it  may,  with  the  first 
light  of  morning  the  scattered  flock  began 
to  gather,  and  before  time  for  service — for 
it  was  Sunday,  “worship  day” — everybody  and 
everybody’s  friends  came  streaming  from  all 
conceivable  directions.  Even  the  magistrate 
and  his  secretary  came.  They  with  the  low- 
liest went  to  the  house  of  prayer  and  knelt 
and  prayed  — as  non-Christians  do  — to 
“heaven”  that  the  foreign  teacher  might  not 
die. 

HELP  AT  LAST 

Before  daybreak  on  Tuesday,  the  seventh 
day,  the  vice  consul  under  escort  of  soldiers  had 
arrived  after  an  all-night’s  march.  With  him 
came  a native  physician  from  the  staff  of  Dr. 
D.  Duncan  Main  of  the  Church  Missionary  So- 
ciety. He  did  the  little  that  could  be  done  to 
cleanse  and  dress  the  wounds,  which  up  to  that 
time  had  received  no  attention  whatsoever. 
Then  he  dressed  Mr.  Kennedy  in  the  clothing  I 
had  sent  by  the  cook.  There  were  nine 
wounds  on  the  head,  the  skull  being  frac- 
tured in  four  places.  As  putrifaction  had 
already  set  in  they  hurried  Mr.  Kennedy  by 
litter  and  boat  to  Hangchow  where  they  ar- 
rived on  Wednesday.  Here  his  wounds  were 


22 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


properly  dressed  and  cared  for  by  the  skillful 
hands  of  Dr.  Main.  I recognized  in  the 
doctor  a man  of  the  highest  professional 
standing,  whose  diagnosis  would  be  the  last 
word  among  physicians.  So  when  he  told 
me  on  the  night  of  my  arrival  at  his  home 
(the  tenth  day  after  the  injury)  that  in  all 
human  probability  concussion  of  the  brain 
would  set  in  that  night,  I was  ready  to 
accept  the  verdict  unquestioningly,  and  to 
await  the  inevitable.  There  was  no  spirit 
left  in  me.  Someone  was  praying.  Concus- 
sion did  not  set  in. 

LESSONS  IN  NURSING 

When  the  doctor  removed  the  bandages  from 
Mr.  Kennedy’s  head,  and  I saw  for  the  first 
time  the  deep  gaping  wounds  in  their  swollen, 
putrified  condition,  I was  horrified.  Some  of 
them  lay  open — as  it  seemed  to  me — an  inch  in 
depth.  The  whole  head  looked  like  a mass  of 
raw  liver.  The  cut  in  the  forehead  appeared  to 
be  about  three  inches  long,  and  lay  open  deep 
and  wide.  I supposed  as  I watched  the 
doctor  dress  the  wounds  that,  of  course,  my 
husband  would  be  disfigured  for  life.  But 
God  has  mercifully  undertaken,  and  today 
only  a few  scars  remain  to  tell  the  tale 
of  “our  trouble  which  came  to  us  in  Asia." 

During  the  eight  days  we  remained  in  Dr. 
Main’s  home  he  taught  me  to  dress  the 
wounds.  No  stitches  were  taken,  nor  were 
any  remedies  used  except  the  customary  dis- 
infectants. Eighteen  pieces  of  bone  gradu- 
ally sloughed  off  from  the  skull  wounds.  A 
large  abscess  had  formed  on  the  back  of  the 
head,  and  numerous  smaller  ones.  The  left 
arm  (to  quote  the  doctor’s  exact  words)  had 
been  pounded  to  pulp,  and  the  marks  of  the 
ribs  were  imprinted  on  the  inside  of  the 
arm.  The  left  wrist  had  been  shot  twice 
with  a pistol,  loaded  evidently  with  slugs  or 
gravel.  The  right  forearm  had  been  burned 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


23 


in  the  flames  of  their  torches.  The  twenty 
or  more  cuts  on  the  body  were  of  a minor 
nature  as  the  blows  had  been  aimed  at  the 
head  with  evident  intent  to  kill. 

BELATED  HELP 

A missionary  who  was  stationed  near  the  lo- 
cality, returning  two  years  later  on  furlough, 
came  purposely  to  see  us.  He  told  us  that,  as 
soon  as  the  news  that  a missionary  had  been 
injured  near  by  reached  his  station,  he  had 
hurried  to  the  farmhouse,  but  the  place  was  de- 
serted. He  had  arrived  too  late  to  be  of  any 
service.  Had  the  news  reached  him  in  time,  he 
could  have  been  at  Mr.  Kennedy’s  side  within  a 
few  hours.  He  found  the  wall  of  the  room 
painted  red  with  the  blood  that  had  gushed 
from  the  severed  arteries  as  Mr.  Kennedy 
lay  unconscious  on  his  rescuer’s  back. 

We  were  told  while  in  Hangchow  that 
seven  men  had  actually  been  beheaded  for 
the  crime.  This  was  a shock  to  us.  Upon 
our  expressing  regret  to  the  vice  consul  that 
life  should  have  been  taken,  he  explained 
that  the  matter  was  beyond  his  jurisdiction, 
and  that  punishment  had  been  meted  out  in 
accordance  with  Chinese  law  and  custom 
Whether  the  guilty  were  apprehended,  or 
whether  the  innocent  suffered  for  the  guilt}' 
no  one  can  say. 

IN  APPRECIATION 

Doctor  and  Mrs.  Main  had  given  us  out  of  their 
busy  lives  by  night  and  day  of  their  time  and 
skill,  and  all  without  thought  of  any  return  we 
could  make.  On  leaving  the  hospitable  roof 
which  had  sheltered  us  in  our  extremity,  and 
in  bidding  good-bye  to  these  friends,  we  who 
had  come  to  them  as  strangers,  we  who  had 
no  claim  whatsoever  upon  their  generosity 
or  sympathy,  we  who  had  partaken  of  their 
open-handed  and  princely  hospitality,  felt  a 
gratitude  deeper  than  words  express.  While 


24  UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


saying  this,  we  are  not  unmindful  of  th< 
sympathy  and  unstinted  kindness  of  othei 
friends  whose  opportunity  of  serving  us  may 
have  been  less. 

BACK  IN  SHANGHAI 
We  returned  to  Shanghai  the  last  days  of 
April,  and  we  sailed  for  the  United  States  June 
twenty-sixth.  The  interim  was  a time  of  many 
perplexities.  Mr.  Kennedy  had  been  absent 
from  the  mission  for  some  months,  and  there 
were  details  of  business  needing  attention. 
There  were  reports  to  be  written  home,  and 
there  was  the  local  chapel  and  church  to 
be  pastored,  besides  the  usual  routine  of 
mission  work.  In  all  these  matters  he  shared 
the  responsibility,  taking  the  Sunday  services 
in  the  church  on  two  occasions.  Depressing 
as  the  outlook  was  from  some  angles,  yet  the 
fact  that  he  was  beginning  to  assume  re- 
sponsibility raised  the  hope  of  our  remaining 
on  the  field.  Mr.  Kennedy  grasped  at  the 
possibility  that,  with  the  coming  of  autumn, 
he  could  return  to  his  work  in  the  hills. 
Would  it  be  faith  to  go  home  now,  since 
the  Lord  had  been  so  graciously  answering 
prayer?  Why  should  we  not  stay  on,  and 
trust  the  Lord  for  strength  to  work?  But 
we  were  already  well  on  into  the  heat  of 
another  summer  in  China,  and  however  much 
we  may  have  desired  to  remain,  as  one  day 
after  another  passed,  we  seemed  more  and 
more  impelled  to  the  decision  that  we  were 
to  return  to  America  at  once.  This  decided, 
the  question  arose,  what  were  we  to  do  with 
our  furniture!  If  we  had  had  only  our  own 
furniture  to  consider,  it  would  have  been 
a simple  matter.  But  the  furniture  of  three 
families  who  were  on  furlough  was  stored 
in  our  house.  One  room  was  filled  from 
floor  to  ceiling,  and  every  room  had  more 
than  its  quota.  I went  to  the  Lord  for 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


25 


guidance,  and  as  I prayed  it  occured  to  me 
to  rent  the  house  furnished.  I said,  “Lord, 
if  this  plan  is  from  You,  send  someone  to 
rent  the  house  in  that  way.”  A few  hours 
later  a neighbor  came  in  to  ask  if  she 
could  rent  the  house  furnished  just  as  it 
was.  Thus  again  the  Lord  had  provided. 
Praise  be  to  His  name! 

HOMEWARD  BOUND 

We  were  fortunate,  at  that  season  of  the  year^ 
to  secure  passage  without  delay.  Passage  ordi- 
narily must  be  booked  months  ahead.  Friends 
very  kindly  came  to  our  aid,  and  preparations 
for  the  home-going  were  hurried  to  the  finish. 
We  went  aboard  our  steamer — the  “Minne- 
sota”— in  due  time.  When  about  two  days 
out  at  sea  the  word  was  officially  passed  to 
the  passengers  that  we  were  to  go  into  dry 
dock  at  Nagasaki,  Japan.  Rumors,  of  course, 
of  all  sorts  were  afloat  as  to  the  reason  for 
it,  but  later  the  fact  became  known  that  the 
post  that  held  the  rudder  was  cracked  below 
the  water  line.  Friends  in  America,  know- 
ing that  we  were  on  that  vessel,  told  me 
later  that  they  read  in  the  daily  papers  that 
the  Minnesota  had  gone  into  dry  dock  just 
in  time,  as  “in  two  days  more  the  Minnesota 
would  have  been  at  sea  without  a rudder.” 

IN  DRY  DOCK 

Arrived  at  Nagasaki,  we,  along  with  the  other 
passengers,  were  prepared  to  go  ashore.  The 
long  swinging  stairs  of  the  steamer  had  been 
lowered;  our  luggage  had  already  been  trans- 
ferred. We  had  descended  cautiously  and  were 
waiting  our  turn  to  go  aboard  the  little  tender 
standing  by,  when  a strange  thing  happened. 
The  officers  were  in  haste  to  get  the  ship  into 
dry  dock  before  the  tide  came  in,  and  the  big 
vessel  under  mistaken  orders,  started  under 
way.  The  passengers  who  were  already  on  the 
tender  were  horrified  to  see  a sailor  on  the 


26 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


point  of  pitching  my  little  boy  aboard  the 
tender  (a  distance  of  several  feet).  With 
the  Minnesota  beginning  to  move  in  the 
opposite  direction,  thus  widening  the  chasm 
between  the  boats  every  instant — the  steps 
swinging  from  side  to  side — the  child,  had 
he  been  tossed,  could  not  but  have  falleij 
into  the  water.  Now,  how  that  sailor  held 
on  to  the  boy  when  the  child  seemed  to 
have  already  left  his  hands,  I cannot  tell, 
only  that  the  Almighty  God  had  mercy  on 
us.  There  is  no  other  explanation.  Thor- 
oughly alarmed  officers  hastened  down  the 
perilous  stairway  and  helped  us  back  to  the 
deck  and  safety. 

While  the  big  vessel  shifted  her  position, 
all  around  was  confusion — whistles  blowing, 
bells  clanging,  officers  calling  out  orders.  As 
we  sat  on  the  deck  throughout  it  all,  we 
were  a family  that  sat  in  the  presence  of 
God.  We  knew  that  although  the  enemy 
might  rage,  “He  that  keepeth  Israel  neither 
slumbers  nor  sleeps.”  When  the  word  came 
again  to  go  ashore,  the  ship  was  safely  in 
dry  dock.  The  water  had  been  pumped  from 
the  huge  basin,  and  on  either  side  we  could 
see  steps  descending  to  the  very  bottom. 
Long  planks  had  been  placed  from  the  deck 
to  the  opposite  wall  of  the  dock.  Walk 
across  them  at  that  dizzy  height  with  our 
children  and  our  sick,  we  could  not.  So  we 
did  the  next  best  thing:  we  took  our  babies 
in  our  arms  and  slid  down  the  planks. 

Once  more  on  terra  firma  we  hailed  a 
sampan  and  were  rowed  across  the  bay  to 
the  Nagasaki  Hotel  where  rooms  had  been 
reserved  for  the  passengers.  A few  hours 
later,  in  walking  about  the  hotel  we  learned 
that  some  had  been  left  without  suitable 
accomodations.  Appreciating  the  dilemma  of 
the  sliip’s  officers,  and  the  discomfiture  of 
the  passengers,  we  at  once  offered  to  sur- 
render one  of  our  rooms.  The  offer  was  very 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


27 


graciously  accepted  by  our  captain.  Though 
put  to  considerable  inconvenience,  we  were 
glad  to  do  this,  never  imagining  that  there 
was  to  be  a sequel  to  this  incident.  But 
there  was  a sequel. 

YOKOHAMA  TO  SEATTLE 

When  we  were  booking  our  passage,  we  were 
assigned  two  state-rooms  adjoining  with  the 
understanding  that  the  one  must  be  re- 
linquished at  Yokohama,  as  it  was  already 
engaged  from  that  port.  Baron  Komura  and 
his  party  were  to  board  our  ship  there  en 
route  to  the  United  States,  and  every  cabin 
would  be  needed.  Before  we  reached  Naga- 
saki, I had  approached  the  purser  with  the 
request  that  he  would,  at  Yokohama,  assign 
to  Mr.  Kennedy  a state-room  as  close  to 
mine  as  possible;  I urged  that  my  husband 
was  unable  to  care  for  himself;  that  my 
children  were  too  little  to  be  left  alone; 
and,  furthermore,  that  my  Japanese  nurse 
was  to  leave  me  there.  This  officer  in  reply 
informed  me  that  Mr.  Kennedy  had  already 
been  assigned  a state-room  some  distance 
from  mine  with  another  passenger.  In  spite 
of  my  explanation  that  I could  not  go  to  an- 
other man’s  rocm  to  dress  my  husband,  and 
that  room  some  distance  away,  he  was  im- 
movable. The  arrangement  he  had  made 
seemed  final. 

But  when  we  again  approached  him  on  the 
subject  as  the  great  vessel  was  steaming  ovt 
to  sea  from  Yokohama,  amid  fireworks  and 
firing  of  cannon  and  music  of  Japanese  bands 
and  shouts  of  “banzai”  in  honor  of  Baron 
Komura  and  his  party,  he  replied  courteously 
that  we  were  to  keep  the  two  staterooms  that 
we  already  had.  I was  surprised  at  his  an- 
swer and  wondered  what  could  have  caused 
him  to  reverse  his  decision.  I thanked  him 
for  his  kindness  and  praised  our  Father  who 
had  made  it  possible  for  us  to  return  to 


28 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


America  in  such  comfort.  It  was  not  till  long 
afterwards  that  I associated  the  incident  in 
the  hotel  with  the  purser’s  graciousness  in 
granting  Mr.  Kennedy  the  sole  use  of  a splen- 
did cabin  all  the  way  across  the  Pacific.  In 
due  time  we  reached  Seattle.  Friends  were 
waiting  for  us  at  the  pier.  Passing  the 
customs  and  arranging  for  transportation  oc- 
cupied our  day  ashore.  Evening  found  us 
aboard  train.  We  proceeded  on  our  way  to 
Chicago,  where  we  arrived  at  midnight,  July 
24th. 

AFTERWARD 

In  the  interval  between  then  and  now  many 
lessons  have  been  learned.  For  ten  long  years 
Mr.  Kennedy  was  unable  to  return  to  the  min- 
istry, nor  could  he  do  much  work  of  any  kind. 
Y ears  they  were  of  testing  and  trial,  years  when 
“the  wormwood  and  the  gall”  were  very  real. 
If  we  drank  the  “water  of  affliction”  on  the 
mission  field,  we  as  truly  ate  the  “bread  of  ad- 
versity” at  home.  The  victory  and  triumph  and 
strength  and  brave  heart  that  had  been  mine 
were  gone.  Fellowship  with  the  Lord  was 
broken. 

IN  THE  WILDERNESS 

Continuous  trial  and  defeat  turned  my  eyes 
away  from  God.  I said,  “Lord.  I had  prom- 
ised to  go  a 11  the  way  with  Thee,  but  I 
cannot  go  further;  Thou  art  requiring  too 
much;  Thy  way  is  too  hard.”  But  my  heart 
had  no  rest  night  nor  day.  Like  the  children 
of  Israel,  when  they  would  not  “hearken 
unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord  their  God,”  He 
gave  me  “a  trembling  heart’’  and  “sorrow  of 
mind”;  and,  not  knowing  that  I was  using 
the  very  words  of  Scripture,  again  and  again 
I,  like  them,  said  in  the  morning,  “Would 
God  it  were  even!”  and  in  the  evening 
“Would  God  it  were  morning!”  In  my  anguish 
I cried  to  God  to  show  me  again  the  power  of 
the  cross,  and  with  my  “whole  heart  returned 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


29 


to  the  Lord,”  and  “sought  him  with  all  my 
heart  and  soul.”  I waited  upon  Him  in  praise 
and  worship.  Out  of  the  darkness  came  light; 
out  of  defeat  came  victory;  out  of  sorrow  came 
joy,  such  as  I had  never  known;  for  in  answer 
to  that  great  heart  cry  God  had  “strengthened 
me  with  might  by  His  Spirit  in  the  inner 
man,”  that  Christ  might  dwell  in  my  heart 
by  faith;  that  I might  be  “able  to  compre- 
hend with  all  saints  the  breadth,  and  length, 
and  depth,  and  height,  and  to  know  the  love 
of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge.” 

BACK  TO  CHINA 

My  husband,  gradually  gaining  strength  and 
confidence,  finally  found  himself  once  more  able 
for  the  work  of  the  Lord;  and  since  then  by 
His  grace  we  have  toiled  together,  giving  help 
to  needy  souls.  And  now,  after  all  these  years, 
he  has  again  set  his  face  Chinaward.  This  de- 
cision has  not  been  reached  on  an  impulse, 
for  with  the  return  to  the  ministry  has  come 
the  old  irresistible  urging  to  the  mission  field, 
and  the  work  to  which  his  life  was  long  ago 
dedicated.  I have  always  hoped  that  he 
would  sometime  return  to  bear  the  “testi- 
mony of  Jesus”  to  those  among  whom  we 
had  once  labored.  It  has  seemed  to  be  their 
due.  Shortly  after  our  arrival  in  America 
we  received  a petition,  signed  by  eight  hun- 
dred and  forty-three  names,  asking  that  Mr. 
Kennedy  return  to  China  at  once.  But  this 
was  out  of  the  question.  He  must  await  re- 
turning health,  much  as  he  longed  to  be  back 
again  amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  missionary 
life  in  the  hills  of  Chekiang. 

At  the  time  we  sailed  away  from  China  I 
stood  on  the  deck  of  our  giant  steamer  and 
watched  the  receding  shore  until  the  last  line 
of  land  had  disappeared  in  the  distance.  I 
watched  till  the  last  Chinese  junk,  with  its 
big  brown  sails,  was  lost  to  view  and  we  were 
no  longer  in  Chinese  waters.  It  seemed  to  me 


30 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


that  our  work  was  unfinished  in  the  land  we 
were  leaving  behind,  and  that  sometime  we 
would  see  those  shores  again.  Mr.  Kennedy’s 
one  and  only  thought  during  all  this  interim 
has  been  to  return  to  China  to  complete  the 
unfinished  task  and  to  finish  the  testimony 
that  was  not  given.  Whenever  we  have  come 
to  the  parting  of  the  ways,  and  have  been 
uncertain  of  our  bearings,  the  index  finger 
on  the  signboard  has  ever  pointed  overseas; 
and  now,  at  last,  the  way  seems  to  be  open- 
ing, and  the  desire  of  years  nearing  fulfill- 
ment. 

IN  RETROSPECT 

As  we  look  back  over  the  years,  review  the 
dealings  of  our  God  with  us,  and  catch  a glimpse 
of  His  evident  purposes  and  plans,  we  find  the 
past  summed  up  in  the  words  of  Moses  to  God’s 
ancient  people:  “And  thou  shalt  remember  all 
the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led  thee,  to 
humble  thee,  and  to  prove  thee,  to  know 
what  was  in  thine  heart,  whether  thou 
wouldst  keep  His  commandments  or  no.” 
“O,  the  depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the 
wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God;  how  un- 
searchable are  His  judgments,  and  His  ways 
past  finding  out !” 

And  in  this  crisis  hour,  as  we,  with  chas- 
tened hearts,  look  forward  into  the  future, 
we  rest  in  the  unchanging  faithfulness  of 
Him  who  is  “able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly 
above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to, 
the  power  that  worketh  in  us.”  “Unto  Him 
be  glory  in  the  church  by  Christ  Jesus 
throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end. 
Amen.” 

Chicago,  Illinois, 

April  12,  1922 


OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


31 


BACK  TO  CHINA  IN  1922 
AN  ANNOUNCEMENT 

In  heeding  the  call  to  RETURN  TO  THE 
MISSION  FIELD  we  have  been  thrown  back 
upon  the  Lord  and  His  Word  in  a very  real 
sense.  Our  passage  for  Shanghai,  China,  has 
been  booked  on  the  steamship  “Nanking,”  sail- 
ing from  San  Francisco,  September  14,  1922. 
We  have  foreseen  that  we  cannot  fulfill  our 
mission  overseas  apart  from  the  fellowship  of 
the  Lord’s  Body — those  who  have  hearkened 
to  the  call  to  intercession  for  world-evangel- 
ization. We  are  claiming  the  promise,  “I  will 
restore  to  you  the  years  that  the  locust  hath 
eaten.”  Circumstances  necessitate  leaving  the 
family  in  America  and  going  out  alone. 

We  have,  therefore,  from  the  very  first  been 
praying  the  Lord  of  the  Harvest  that  He 
would  give  us  “exceeding  abundantly  above 
all  that  we  ask  or  think”  of  those  whom  He 
could  make  “of  one  heart  and  soul’’  with  us 
as  we  go  on  to  the  field.  We  are  expecting 
Him  to  join  to  us  such  as  will  be  able  to 
discern  in  the  Spirit  the  needs  of  China,  and 
such  as  will  rejoice  to  share  the  prayer- 
burdens  and  tests  and  triumphs  of  whatever 
He  is  sending  us  to  do  among  China’s  mil- 
lions. That  “they  shall  part  alike”  is  the 
promise  held  out  to  him  that  “tarrieth  by 
the  stuff”  equally  with  him  that  “goeth  down 
to  the  battle.” 

The  METHOD  OF  THE  WORLD’S 
EVANGELIZATION  has  been  forever  set- 
tled in  the  words,  “Pray  ye  therefore  the 
Lord  of  the  Harvest,  that  He  will  send  forth 
laborers  into  His  harvest.”  Men  are  to  go 
out  to  the  great  needy  harvest  fields  in 
answer  to  prayer.  Is  there  any  question  that 
the  mission  fields  everywhere  are  suffering 
loss  for  lack  of  “laborers”  who  have  been 
prayed  out?  The  “call  to  the  foreign  field” 
is  not  confined  merely  to  the  person  who 


32 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW 


crosses  the  seas.  It  is  a call  to  everyone  to 
reach  the  world  fields  by  way  of  the  throne 
of  God.  It  is  a call  to  everyone  to  share 
the  soul-travail,  the  prayer-warfare  and  per- 
sonal ministry  of  the  one  who  is  actually  in 
“the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth.” 

There  is  a CRISIS  IN  THE  OLD  MIS- 
SION FIELDS.  The  “Word  of  the  Cross” 
is  being  assailed  before  the  eyes  of  the  na- 
tive church.  The  deity,  the  virgin  birth  of 
Christ,  and  His  atoning  sacrifice  for  sin  are 
being  called  in  question.  The  miraculous 
and  supernatural  are  being  discredited.  The 
personality  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  being  denied. 
Is  it  not  the  time  for  persevering  determined 
prayer  for  such  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
on  the  native  church  as  the  mission  fields 
have  never  known?  Nothing  but  the  Holy 
Spirit  can  make  Jesus  a reality  in  a human 
soul.  Nothing  but  His  coming  in  gracious 
fullness  can  avert  impending  calamity,  and 
bring  the  remedy  that  earnest  souls  in  all 
the  lands  are  seeking. 

This  is  the  DAY  OF  OPPORTUNITY  IN 
MISSION  FIELDS.  The  great  nations  have 
covenanted  together  for  a ten  year’s  truce 
upon  the  high  seas.  The  ocean  highways 
are  open  to  the  messenger  of  the  Cross  in 
this  lull  in  world-conflict.  Opportunity  will 
not  always  knock  at  our  door;  for  a great 
warning  voice  will  one  day  be  heard  de- 
claring “The  hour  of  His  judgment  is  come." 
Verily,  “the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can 
work.”  Meanwhile,  we  are  rejoicing  in  the 
privilege  of  going  in  person  to  mid-China  in 
the  name  of  Him  “that  openeth,  and  no  man 
shutteth;  and  shutteth,  and  no  man  openeth.” 
It  is  needless  to  add  that  we  covet  the  pray- 
ers of  any  “whose  heart  the  Lord  may  open’’ 
as  they  read  this  little  booklet.  “Ye  also  help- 
ing together  by  prayer  for  us.” 

—EDWARD  B.  KENNEDY. 


